Nosy Neighbors - by Freya Sampson

About the Book

"Twenty-five-year-old Kat Bennett has never felt at home anywhere, and especially not in crumbling Shelley House. According to her neighbors, she's prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat is plagued by guilt from her past. Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling is Shelley House's longest resident, and if you believe the other tenants, she's as cantankerous and vindictive as they come. Except there's a good reason Dorothy spends her days spying on her neighbors-a closely guarded secret that no else knows and the reason Dorothy barely leaves her beloved home. When their building faces demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy become unlikely allies in their quest to save their historic home. But when someone starts to play dirty and viciously targets one of the residents, Dorothy and Kat suspect foul play in their community. After the police close the investigation, it's up to this improbable pair to bring a criminal to justice."--

Book Synopsis

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

Nothing brings neighbors together like someone else's secrets... At Shelley House, the walls have ears, and they're attached to a ragtag duo of busybodies ready to pry, snoop, and generally annoy their neighbors into solving a crime.

Seventy-seven-year-old Dorothy Darling has lived in Shelley House longer than any of the other residents, and if you take their word for it, she's as cantankerous as they come. But Dorothy has her reasons for spying. And none of them require justifying herself to Kat Bennett.

Twenty-five-year-old Kat has never known a place where she felt truly at home, and crumbling Shelley House is no different. Her neighbors find her prickly and unapproachable, but beneath her tough exterior, Kat's plagued by a guilty secret from her past.

When their apartments face demolition, sworn enemies Kat and Dorothy agree on just one thing: they must save their historic building. But when someone plays dirty--and one of the residents is viciously taken down--Dorothy and Kat seek justice. The police close the investigation too soon, leaving it up to the unlikely amateur sleuths--with a playful Jack Russell terrier at their side--to restore peace in their community.

Review Quotes

"Touching, entertaining, and deeply compassionate, Nosy Neighbors is a tribute to the power of unexpected community and a portrait of two women who take the risk of healing."-Shelf Awareness

"Freya Sampson is the patron saint of city dwellers who form unexpected, solid-as-steel friendships."-NPR

"Freya Sampson is a master at creating complicated, nuanced characters you care deeply about and Nosy Neighbors is no exception! While a mystery is the central engine of the book, the true story lies in the mundane lives of the residents of Shelley House and the pain each person carries within them. A fun and beautiful book about the devastating power secrets can have on our lives and the many ways community can help you heal."-Mia P. Manansala, author of the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Award-winning Arsenic and Adobo

"Sampson delivers a lovely cozy crime mystery! A pair of mismatched sleuths cleverly unite their mistrustful London apartment building community in a story of found family that brims over with warmth and charm."--USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas

"Nosy Neighbors is addictive reading. Freya Sampson has a wonderful talent for creating characters that feel vividly true to life, and it really shines here. This warm and moving novel is layered with mystery, emotion, and heart as it explores its powerful themes of guilt and community. I just know readers are going to love it as much as I do."--India Holton, author of The Secret Service of Tea and Treason

"A fun, heartwarming community caper, this book reminds us that while we can't choose our neighbors, we often end up with exactly the ones we need--even if they infuriate us at first."--Mikki Brammer, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover

"A sweet, uplifting story that explores how a group of strangers can ultimately become a community--and perhaps solve a mystery or two along the way!"--Nikki Erlick, author of The Measure

"Nosy Neighbors is an utterly adorable novel filled with heart and mystery. Freya Sampson gets better and better."--New York Times bestselling author Clare Pooley

"Freya Sampson never fails to make me cry in the best possible way, and Nosy Neighbors is no exception. While the characters try to solve a mystery in their quest to save their beloved home, it becomes apparent that the real mystery is how they ended up in that situation in the first place--a mystery Sampson slowly unravels with the utmost care for their humanity and abundant charm. It's impossible not to root for Dorothy, Kat, and even Shelley House itself."--Tori Anne Martin, USA Today bestselling author of This Spells Disaster

"Nosy Neighbors is a real hug of a book, full of dynamic characters, intrigue, courage and kindness. I loved it!"--Hazel Prior, bestselling author of How the Penguins Saved Veronica

"Touching and thrilling all at once. I loved this clever mystery about friendship, loss and the power of community. Highly recommended!"--Tess Amy, author of The Confidence Games

"The ultimate cozy mystery...if you love "Only Murders in the Building," you'll love this."--theSkimm

"Fun and feisty, this story will make you laugh and rush to finish."--Daily Mom

"A story that will make you laugh, make you try to guess whodunnit, and also feels like a warm hug!"--Chick Lit Central

"Sampson (The Lost Ticket, 2022) once again presents a charming story about intergenerational friendship leading to healing...This heartwarming tale is full of subtle humor and rich characters."--Booklist

"The tenants are as crafty and charming as the house in this all's-well-that-ends-well tale."--Kirkus

About the Author

Freya Sampson works in television as a creator and executive producer. Her credits include two documentary series for the BBC about the British royal family as well as a number of factual and entertainment series. She studied history at Cambridge University and in 2018 was short-listed for the Exeter Novel Prize. She lives in London with her husband, two young children, and an antisocial cat.